Growing Camp Counselor Skills: A Guide to Inclusive Camp Experiences

As a camp owner or program director, you have the power to create an environment where every camper thrives. This guide is designed to help you empower your counselors with time-tested strategies to support campers with high-functioning autism, ADHD, and sensory sensitivities.

With the right tools, your team will be able to:

  • Reduce sensory overload and prevent meltdowns.
  • Improve positive interactions for all campers.
  • Increase participation and engagement.

By understanding the signs and behaviors of campers who learn differently, your counselors will be equipped to manage challenges, creating a more successful and joyful experience for everyone.

Addressing Common Camp Inclusion Challenges

The sounds of summer camp are music to our ears: laughter, splashing, the buzz of new friendships forming. As a camp director or program manager, you strive to create an unforgettable experience for every child. But the idea of summer camp inclusion can also bring up a few worries.
Perhaps you’ve wondered:

“Can we truly include every child?

What if we’re not equipped to handle specific needs?

Will it disrupt the experience for other campers?”

These are valid concerns, and you’re not alone in having them. Many camp leaders grapple with how to successfully integrate campers with diverse needs, from sensory sensitivities and ADHD to mild physical disabilities and communication challenges.

We consider ourselves experts when it comes to adapting approaches and teaching methods. Our OT and PT team brings over 27 years of experience in adaptive aquatic education, including extensive time running day and overnight camps. We understand these challenges firsthand, and we’ve broken down our unique insights into practical solutions that lead to genuine inclusive success.

Meaningful Inclusion Makes All the Difference!

True inclusion isn’t about simply accommodating; it’s about creating an environment where every child feels a sense of belonging, can participate meaningfully, and ultimately, thrive. This not only enriches the experience for the individual child but also fosters empathy, understanding, and a more accepting community for all campers.

Our experience has shown that with the right tools and training, your camp counsellors can confidently support a wider range of campers, ensuring your programs are truly accessible and enjoyable for everyone.

This isn’t just good for the campers; it’s good for your camp’s reputation and reach, allowing you to welcome more families who are looking for truly inclusive opportunities.

4 Practical Inclusive Solutions for Your Camp

How can you move from concern to confidence in your summer camp inclusion strategies? While we can’t reveal all our secrets here (that’s what our course is for!), here are 4 practical solutions to transform your counselors’ approach to inclusion:

  • Understanding Diverse Needs
    Imagine knowing how to quickly identify and support a camper with sensory sensitivities, ADHD, or autism spectrum disorder. Use your enrollment forms to gain insights into (without labelling) each child and prepare your staff with adaptive strategies to meet each camper’s unique needs. Providing your camp counsellors with this foundational knowledge can prevent meltdowns and create a more comfortable environment.
  • Smooth Transitions, Happy Campers
    Moving from one activity to the next can be a huge hurdle for some children. Did you know that you can use transition tips to decrease discomfort and improve a child’s ability to shift focus? This will help them engage in the next part of a program more easily.
  • Effective Communication & Prompting
    Ever wondered how to gently encourage a child who is resistant to a new idea or activity without escalating their discomfort? Our strategies teach your camp leaders how to physically and verbally prompt effectively. Learn how to use fewer words and more targeted gestures, which benefits all campers, not just those with specific communication needs.
  • Flexible Programming for All
    Sometimes, the best strategy is a bit of flexibility. Empowering your program leaders with guidelines to reorganize groups or extend an activity for a few extra minutes can provide much needed comfort and adjustment time for certain children, ultimately leading to greater participation and enjoyment for everyone.

Step Up Your Camp’s Inclusion Journey

Whether you run a YMCA summer camp, a Park & Recreation program, a private camp, a Boys & Girls Club, or even a therapy clinic offering half-day camps, these strategies are designed for you. And if you’re already incorporating adaptive practices, our training complements existing programs by offering a unique perspective from an occupational therapy (OT) and physical therapy (PT) team.

This distinct blend of expertise is what makes our approach so effective and truly unique.

Ready to transform your camp’s approach to inclusion, overcome common challenges, and ensure every child has an incredible summer?

Our 2-hour online course, “Strategies for Inclusion Success,” is packed with actionable insights and practical techniques derived from our decades of real-world experience in and out of the water.

Invest in your staff, your campers, and the future of your program. Learn more and enroll in “Strategies for Inclusion Success” today!

Ailene Tisser, MA, PT, Founder

Ailene Tisser, a pediatric Physical Therapist with over 30 years of experience and co-founder of Swim Angelfish® and the Swim Whisperers® method, specializes in aquatic therapy and adaptive swim for children with special needs. Trained in NDT, DIR/Floortime, and certified as an Autism Specialist and Primitive Reflex Specialist she fosters water safety, confidence, and independence in her young clients. Ailene is also passionate about educating aquatic professionals, setting a standard of excellence for adaptive aquatics training and professional development.

Cindy Freedman, MOTR, Founder

Cindy, MS, OTR/L is an occupational and recreational therapist with over 30 years of experience specializing in pediatrics and aquatics. Driven by a passion for helping children with special needs reach their full potential, Cindy co-founded Swim Angelfish, an organization dedicated to providing adaptive swim and aquatic therapy services as well as professional training. Her expertise in sensory integration, reflex repatterning, and aquatics, coupled with her love for water and experience as a national champion diver, has enabled her to make a profound impact on the lives of countless children. Cindy is certified as an Autism Specialist by IBCCES, and shows an unwavering commitment to improving the lives of children with special needs.